The Giallorossi have officially dropped points following their loss last week to Torino, but despite that loss, things are generally going well for Gian Piero Gasperini as he starts his new chapter in Rome. Newcomers Wesley and Evan Ferguson have been blending into the squad excellently, and Matías Soulé’s performances through match day three suggest that this may be the season the Argentinian wonderkid goes from promising talent to A1-level superstar.
Yet tomorrow’s Derby does not concern itself
with recent form; the heroes of the Derby are quite often not the week-in, week-out stars like Wesley, Ferguson, or Soulé. Similarly, even though Lazio sit in thirteenth place with two losses and one win to start the season and are still reeling from the impacts of their transfer ban, don’t be under the delusion that this will be anything close to an easy win for Roma. It will be a hard-fought match inside a tense Stadio Olimpico and a tense city: 2000 police officers are on standby due to rumors of international ultras making their way to Rome for this match.
Match Details
Date: September 21st
Kickoff: 12:30 CET/6:30 EDT
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Roma
Referee: Simone Sozza
Gasperini understands the importance of this match, his first Derby as a Roma manager. In his pre-match press conference, he reflected on just how important this match is, and how unusual it is for the Derby to occur so close to the start of the season:
“The derby is a special match, beyond the league table and the way the rest of the season unfolds, there is a local rivalry on the pitch that makes everything more beautiful. The derbies that remain are the ones you win. Draws are forgotten, defeats are quickly forgotten. Playing it on the fourth matchday is unusual, there’s a lot of tension.”
“Lazio is a good team, with a coach who has done well in all competitions. They haven’t made any moves, but last year they managed to achieve good results. I respect the quality of the team and the players; it’s a high-level match. I’m focused on the present; it’s a great challenge, and I’ll try to bring my experience to a place like Rome. These are the reasons that pushed me to take this path. I’m convinced it was the right choice.”
The club is obviously hoping for a return to Champions League football this season, and while some may quibble with the idea that Roma should treat this match like a cup final, to a certain extent, that is how every Derby feels. With a win, Gasperini and his squad will not only keep strong pressure on the top four spots in Serie A; they will suggest that this team is ready to compete at the highest level. No pressure.
What to Watch for (Other Than the Fact That It’s the Derby)
Will Kostas Tsimikas Get His First Start in Rome?
Kostas Tsimikas’ loan signing from Liverpool happened with little fanfare. It was a necessary signing to be sure, as Roma couldn’t rely just on Angeliño on the left flank (he is a human, after all), but compared to most of Roma’s other signings this summer, a backup left-back didn’t exactly excite. That muted response may transform into intrigue and excitement very soon, however, if reports from La Repubblica suggesting that Tsimikas will start over Angeliño in the Derby are legitimate.
In theory, Gasperini is looking to start Tsimikas so that the Giallorossi can showcase greater thrust and solidity, reflecting the coach’s desire to improve his squad’s attacking potency without changing too much of the starting eleven. Given Angeliño’s good-but-not-great start to the 2024/2025 season and Tsimikas’ reported spate of intense training, signs suggest that Gasperini believes that Tsimikas has the intelligence and skill to make a significant impact in the Derby. Roma’s history with Greek defenders named Kostas is quite positive; perhaps tomorrow’s match will signal the beginning of a new chapter and a new Greek god in Rome.
Will The Pharaoh Rule Again in His Seventeenth Derby?
It’s no secret that Stephan El Shaarawy is on the tail end of his career. The former Italian international has quietly transitioned from full-time starter for the Giallorossi into a rotational option, in part due to injury, in part due to age. Yet even still, there’s quite a bit of magic left in El Sha’s boots; his dribbling ability and eye for goal make him quite valuable still, even if players like Matías Soulé and Leon Bailey have theoretically leapfrogged him in the depth chart.
However, given Bailey’s continued injury struggles and the absence of Paulo Dybala for tomorrow’s match due to the injury he suffered against Torino, it looks as if Bren’s favorite Roma player will be in the starting eleven for his seventeenth Derby Della Capitale. It will be a tremendous opportunity for El Shaarawy to turn back the clock and show that he can still be a key player for the club at age 32, but it will also be a chance for the veteran to show just how well he can perform with Evan Ferguson and Matías Soulé as his attacking partners. If you squint, you can see why the three of them might work well together: Ferguson’s offers the kind of classic No. 9 presence should create pockets of space for El Shaarawy to attack from the left, either by driving inside for a shot or slipping in behind when fullbacks are drawn toward Ferguson. Meanwhile, Soulé’s technical quality and movement between the lines make him a natural connector, someone who can both feed Ferguson in the box and combine quickly with El Shaarawy on the wing. The three profiles are different, but complementary: a veteran dribbler and scorer, a young creative spark, and a central striker who can finish the moves they put together.
The question, of course, is whether Roma can translate that theoretical balance into actual chemistry on the pitch in a derby where intensity and emotion can trump tactics. El Shaarawy may no longer be the explosive force he once was, but if he’s partnered with Feréuson and Soulé tomorrow, he doesn’t need to be. He just needs to pick his spots, use his intelligence, and trust his boots still have one or two moments of magic left in them. If those moments come tomorrow, seventeen may just be a new lucky number for El Shaarawy and Roma.
